Hispanics: Business ownership key to American dream

As soon as immigrants learn the language of the neighborhood, they can successfully become business owners and not just workers in those businesses. And the ones who don't want to own businessses can earn more as bilingual employees. DP

HISPANIC SERIES: Untapped employee market for companies in rising Hispanic demographic

BY JERRY DAVICH

NWITimes.com : It can't be denied -- Hispanics and hard work go together like American business and cheap labor.

This partly explains why the rate of Hispanics who start their own businesses far outpaces the national average by a 3-1 ratio.

Many Hispanics see being their own boss as the only way to true prosperity here.

In 2002, there were 1.6 million Hispanic-owned establishments, a 31 percent jump from 1997. Today there are an estimated 2 million establishments with more opening each month.

Of those Hispanic-owned businesses, nearly half are owned by people of Mexican descent, and the majority are mom-and-pop operators, like Noel Berrum, owner of El Super Taco restaurant in Hobart.

Like most local Hispanic business owners born in Mexico, he came to the Chicago region to work for someone else before running his own place.

While learning the language, culture and business ropes, he earned a living here, regularly sending money back to his wife, Maria, and his family.

Be sure to read the rest of this story! This is only a small part of it.